New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-16
lfR RfNDALHS ADTICE

Mr.. Randall again poses as the saviour of the
Democratic party. Bemircd beyond hope by
its struggles for free trade. the party in power
Is confronted with a surplus revenue which
threatens industry and trade. AT any time
within the last three years it would have been
easy to reduce tho revenue, If Free Traders
had not blocked the way by insisting upon
their pet methods. Now Mr.. Randall tells
his party once moro that "thc sentiment
against any serious interference with the tariff
is very strong that "the thin guise of revenue
reduction will not excuse any attempt at radical
efforts in that direction" and that mere
reduction of duties would certainly bring
larger imports and larger revenue. The TRIB-
UNE has been telling these truths to the Dom
ocratio leaders so long that Mr.. Randall cannot
claim originality for his suggestions. If Con
gress wants to reduce the customs revenue. 1t
can do so In two ways, by cutting of sugar
duties. or by making the duties higher and
Truly protective on wool, tin plates, wire rods.
steel ingO;s, and few other ARTICLES. Either
mode would reduce revenue; free traders
reduction Of protective duties would only in
crease imports and revenue.
Mr.. Randall proposes TO cut off the internal
lslN on 10 )dCto. he bhlhH Olih1 Nbuih b4Nhh
the Southern Democrats, who are growing dis
satisfied with the free trade policy of their
party But he says
It looks Just now rs ~ any radical Interference
in that direction would be like taking hold Of the
hot end Of a poker. on the very matter Of the FIRE
list taken In connection with the earnest talk among
some Of our friends about free raw materials the re-
cent development I'm iron production In Alabama,
Tennessee Georgia. West Virginia and Virginia makes
1t n very dangerous thing to be Experimenting In
that direction.
From politicians point Of view this is
sound. The Democratic party cannot afford
to increase the drift Of Southern opinion to-
ward the Republican policy. But Mr.. Ran
dali, being a Democrat, does not venture TO
condemn the settled and traditional policy OF
his party; he does not say, Republican
would, that the abandonment Of new develop
mcnts and industries at the South TO the tender
mcrccs Of foreign competition would be
crime All that he ventures to say is that this
is time to move very cautiously AT some
other time, when the Inrty is not in danger,
he leaves it to be inferred that general change
of tariff would be justified. So the Democratic
temporizcr tries to keep in harmony with the
free trade end Of his party by holding out vague
expectations Of moro radical changes hereafter
The free trade element Is so strong and so
predominant that even Mr. Randall does not
dare TO confront it sQuarely, but argues that
this is not a good time to make the changes
demanded.
Precisely because this aggressive froc trade
clement does so rule the Democratic party, the
people Of manufacturing and mining districts
are turning and ought to turn against that
party. There is no reason for trusting men
who declare that protection lis robbery but
who say that for political cXpcdiency's sake
this is not good time to stop the robbery.
Men interested In the development Of resources
at the South need safer and more solid
foundation for their enterprises than the sue
cess Of such party can give.